southgate



G. T. SOAUTHGATE. HIGH POTENTIALl SWITCH. APPLICATION FILED OCT- 6.1917.

I )atented July 22, 1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

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wn wy G. T. so-UHGATE.

HIGH PoENHAL SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED` OCT.6. i917.

'Patented July 22, 1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

G. T. SOUTHGATE.

` HIGH POTENTIAL SWITCH. APPLICATION, FILED 0cT.s,1911.

Patented July 22, 1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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GEORGE T. soUTHGATE, or BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.4

HIG. rr'oTENTIAL SWITCH. l

. To all whom it muy concern.'

Be-it known that I, GEORGE T. SOUTH- GATE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Brooklyn, inthe county of Kings and the arrow 8 in Fig. 2.

State of New York, havel invented certain new and useful lImprovements in High- Potential Switches; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear,` and eXactdescription of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled inthe art towhich it ap pertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to switches.

One object ,ofl my invention is to provide a simple, cheap and efficient switch for the opening and closing. ot' circuits carrying currents of electricity' at highpotentials.

. A further object of myinvention is to provide a switch having a' minimum number Y of insulating` parts. l

A Afurther object of my invention is to provide a switch having discharge horns-so correlated with the contacting elements of said switch that when the circuit is opened the arc will be transferred from said coiftacting elements to said horns.

A further object of my invention is to provide a switch having a pair of contacts which move-in oppositedlrectlons in order tb increase the relative speed with which saidt contactsseparate without increasing the absolute speed of said contacts.

These and further objects of 'my invention will 'be explained in the following specific-ation, "reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which1-` Figure 1 isa frontelevation of my improved switch.

Fig. 2 isia View of the parts shown in Fig. 1 looking in the direction-of the arrow 2. In Figs. 1 and 2 the sleet hoodsa'round Athe contacts are omitted for the sakerof clearness. 'i 1 Fig. 3 is an enlarged detall view-of one of the contacts viewed in the direction o f' Fig. 4Kis a section along theline-lof' Fig. 8 looking in the directionof the arrows..

1 looking in thedirection of the arrow 5. Fig. 6 is a section along the line 6-'6 of Fig. 4 looking in the direction of the arrows.--

high potential Y Specification of Letters Patent. Patgnted July A2,2, 1919, Application led October 6,

15 represents a base which is composed of .v the .steel angles 1G*16 which may be sup-.

ported in any approved manner andwhich maybe of any length so that any number of my' improved switches may be mounted thereupon. v

At each position where one of my -improved switches is to be mounted a steel channel is secured to the underside of the horizontal legs of the angles 16-16 by means of rivets such as 18.

` The gear housing 19 is secured to thev angles 16-16 in any approved manner `means of the bolts'20-20.

The gear housing 19 may be of any suitable shape and.- size-but it is preferably formed with a bottom rib 21 and a top rib 22 near the center of each of which there are provided cylindrical holes 23 and24 in as by which is revolublymounted the operating .shaft 25.' The bevel gear 26 and the boss 27 formed integrally therewith are pro- `vided with ,a centralv cylindrical hole in which the shaft 25iits tightly and said gear is vsecured to said shaft by means of the pin 28 which fits tightly in holes provided in the boss 27 and shaft 25. The upper flat surlface of the boss 27 is just below the lower fiat surface of the top rib 22 and prevents upward motion of the shaft 25.A Downward motion of the shaft 25 is prevented by the dollar 29 which is secured to the shaft 25 byl thepin 30, the lower face of the collar 29 ing boss 3l. The shaft '25 extends some distance below the bottom of the bottom-rib 21A and the lever.32 fits tight-ly upon said.

verating rod 37. n Fig. 5 is a View of the parts shown in Fig.

Th bearing boss 31 is provided a cylindrical hole 38 and there is formed integrally with the top rib 22 the cylindrical boss 45 provided with a cylindrical hole 39 resting upon the upper surface of the bearaxialiiy is 1in@ wah ui@ 1101@` as. rieten! ing boss 31 is also provided with a cylindri-` cal hole 40 and there is formed integrally with the top rib 22 the cylindrical boss 46 provided with a cylindrical hole 41aiiially.`

in line with the hole 40.

A switch shaft 42"-is revolubly mounted in the holes 38 and 39 andthe bevel lgear/43 is provided with a central cylindrical Ahole in which said shaft fitstightly and'said .gear is secured to said shaft by means of the pin 44. The upper face of the gear bearing against the inside face of the boss 45 serves to prevent upward displacement of the shaft 42 and the lower face of the collar 47 serves 'to prevent downward displacement of `said shaft. The collar 47 is provided with a central cylindrical hole in which fits tightly theI upper end of the shaft 42 and said collar ifs secured to said shaft by means of the pin 48. The collar 47 is formed integrally with the flange 49.

A second switch shaft 50 is revolubly mounted in the holes 40 and 41 and the bevel gear 51 is providedwith a central cylindrical hole in whichsa'id shaft its'rtightly and said gea-r is secured to said shaft by means 5 of Ithe pin 52. rIhe upper `face of the Gear bearing againstv the inside face of the OSS 46 serves to prevent upward ldisplaeeinent of the shaft 50 and the lower` face of the collar 53 'serves to prevent downward dis- 59 and 60.

placement off said shaft. rll`he collar is provided with a central cylindrical hole in which lits tightly the upper end of the shaft and said collar is secured to said shaft by means of the pin 54. The collar .53 is formed integrallywith the flange The axes of the shafts 25, 42 and 50 liel in the same plane and the axes of the shafts -42 and 50 are mutually inclined and make equal angles with the axis of the shaft 25. The gears 43 and 51 mesh with the gear 26.

The flanges 56 and 57 are secured respectively to the flanges 49 and 55 by means of boltssuch as 58. Y

The flanges 56. and 57 are preferably of metal and are secured in any approved manner respectively to the lower ends of the in,- sulators 59 and 60. The fianges 61 and 62 are secured in any approved manner respec' tively to the upper ends of the insulators To each of the anges 61 and 62 thereis secured a switch .bracket 63 by means of bolts such as 64. The switch bracket 63 consists of the flange 65 formed'integrally with the cylindrical boss 66; a plurality of strengthening ribs such as 67 isv formed in tegrally with said flange and boss. The boss 66 is provided with a central cylindrical hole in which fits tightly the cylindrical stud 68, said stud being further secured in said boss by means of thev pin 69 which fits tightly holes. provided in both.. 4k T Fig. 2.

reiches head 70 is formed integrally with the upper end 'of the stud 68 and said. head is pro-v vided with a hole at right angles to the axis of said stud in which hole is fitted tightly one end of the switch arm 71, the latter being secured in place in said headV by'means of the pin 72 which fits tightly in holes provided in both, (see Fig. 9.)

it boss 73 and ribs 74 are` formed integrally with the il head 70. The lower end -of the discharge horn-'75 fits tightly in a there is placed one end of the flexible connection 8 8 and' in the latter the line connection 84; said connections being secured inA place by screws such as 85..

The other end of the line connection 84 is secured 1n one branch of the Y connector 86 to the stem of which the line 87 is se` cured. To the other branch` ofthe Y there is secured in any approved manner one end of the strain insulator 88, the other end of which is secured to the screw eye 89 mounted in thenangl'e 16.

The arm 71 is preferably formed of a tube, and shaped as shown'in plan view in Atthe inner end of the arm 71 the walls of saidtube are swaged together to form the flat portion 90 and said flat poition thus forinedis bent inwardly as at 9-1 and terminates inthe flat portion .92, which is substantially parallel to a plane passing through the axes of the shafts 42 and 50.

The Contact spring'93 is secured to the flat portion 90 by a screw 94 and said spring extends through Ial slot 95 formed in the dat' .portion 92, said spring bein@ bent into the form of'a U asat 96 and-the end of said spring enters a slot provided in the contact l block 97. Between the U 96 and the screw 94 the contact block 98 is secured to the spring 93 by means of a screw 99. A washer 100 and a thin leaf of copper 101 is secured between the head of the screw 99 and the spring 93. the contour of the spring 93 and the end thereof1 enters the slot in the contact/block -97. The block 97, the end of the spring 93 and the ends of the leaf 101 are Iprovided with holes through which is passed a rivet 102 whereby said spring and leaf are secured in place by means The connector 79is pro-- vided with a boss having cylindricalholes 81 and 82 formed therein; in the former Said thin copper leaf follows" I vided with a U shaped loop asat 103.` The block A97 lis fiexibly secured to the Afiatportion 92 by the screw 104 whichpasses loosely through a hole provided in said poi-tion and is threaded in a hole provided in said block.

The connecting stud 105 is formed inte grally with the block 98 and said studrext-ends loosely through the, hole 106 provided in the fiat portion 90 and the movement'of `the block 98 away from the flat portion 90 `is limited by the nut 107 which is threaded upon the ystud 105.- The stud 105 is pro- .vided Awith a. hole 108 in which is placed one end-of .the flexible connection 83,'the latter being secured infplace by means of t-he 'screw' 109. An adjusting rod 110 hasl one end cured to the arm- 71 and uponthe other end is threaded one end of the turn buckle 111, the other end of said turn Abuckle being threaded upon one end of the adjusting 'rod 112, the other end of which is threaded into the boss 113 formed integrallyv with `the 'flange 65. j

'lille othercontact arm 114 is provided at its inner end with a contact constructed the same as the contact just described. -This Contact includes the contact block 115 which is similar to the contactlblock l97 and the conta ct `block 11.6 which is similar to the contact block 98. The contact block 116 is provided with the stud 117, the latter being connected through the exihle connection 118 and the line connection 119 to a line similar to 87, the endof `said vline being lsupported `bv the strain insulatorr120rj Adjusting rods 121 and-`122 and a turn buckle 123 are 4provided -for adjusting the inner end of the arm `114 in the sam-e manner as will be hereafter! explained with reference to the adjustment of the inner end of the arm 71. v

Curvedsleet hoods 124-124 are secured at one end -to the free end of the arm 114 and ycurved Sleet. hoods 125-125 are secured at one endtothe free end of the arm 71, the opposing f'ree ends of' said hoods 'being sufciently f-ar apart to provide for the passage ofthe arms 71 and 114 between said endswhen l said contacts are separated. Each pair of said hoods partially surrounds the contacts :as shown in Fig. 6.

The lhood 126 is provided around the gear housing 19 and is secured thereto in any aipproved manner vas hyscrews 127,

It is evident that any desired 'number of' 4my improved switches may be mounted in juxtaposition upon the angles '1G-.46 and that' each of said switches may be operated hy a sepa-rate operatingrod such `as 37 itis also eviden-t that a plurality of said switches may be simultaneously operated by one operating rod such aS 37 by connecting' said rod tothe lever 32 of each switch.'

'The operation of my improved high potential switch is as follows vThe parts lbeing in the, position shown in the figures, if now the rod 37 ,is moved in the directionof the arrow 128 in lFig. 2 it will turn-th gear 26 inthe direction of' the' arrow 129 in Fig. 1. This will turn the gear 51 and insulator 60 in the'direction of' the arrow 130 and the gea-r 43 and insulator` 59 in the direction of the arrow 13,1 (see `ig.. l.) This will move the arms 71 and 114 inthe direction of the arrows in Fig. 7 and will separate the'contact blocks 97 and 98 from the contact blocks 115 and 116 and alrfcs' will form between the end of the contactbjlock 97 and the arm 114 and between the end of the contact blocir 115 and thev arm Fig. v7 ,will bring said arms in such position 85 4that the arc will extend' between same and as said arms are moved around, the arc vwill he gradually increased in length until it will finally'be transf-erred to the discharge horns` 75 and 132. whence passing upwardly, owing to the inclined position of said horns. the are Will be stretched and finally extinguisihed.

It is to be noted that by the'` use of the4 curved arms 71 and 114, which are approximately semicircular in shape,v amagnetic field is induced by the current flowing therethrough, which field develops a normal tend- 'ency in the arc to remainr in the plane pass! ing through the disch-arge horns.

VVhen the circuit is to be closed the rod 37 is moved in the direction opposite to that just described and the arms 71 and 114 are moved in the direction opposite to the .direct-ion of the arrows in Fig. 7,-thus bring; 105 ing. the parts into thel .relative positions shown in the drawings 'and closing the cir-` j cuit. The l'ine current will flow from the line 87. through the line connector 84 to ble connection 83 and arm 7l to the contact blocks 97 and 98, thence through the contact blocks and 116 to the arm` 114 and the flexible connection 118, thence to the line connector 119.

Itis t'o be noted that by adjusting the turn buckles 111 and 123 the loci 'of the contacts supported by the inner ends of the arms 71 and 114 respectively may be varied so that the contact blocks 97 and 98 may contact '120 with the Contact blocks 115 and 116 with any f desired degree of pressure.

I claim 1. In an electric switch, the combination with a pair of arms, of a contactl mounted on one end of eachA arm, and located to mutually contact an axially revoluble insulator supporting the otherA end of each arm and means for rotating said arms.

2. In an' electric switch, the combination 130 with a pair of arms, of a Contact mounted on one end ol" each arm, an axially revoluble ,insulator supporting the other end of each arm and means tor rotatingy said arms in opposite directions.

3. ln an electric switch, thecombination with a pair oil' arms, oi a contact mounted on one end ot' cach arm, revoluble supports t'or the other endsl of said arms having` axes mutually inclined` discharge horns axially inline with saidv supports, gears on said supports and a gear tor turning` said gears.

el. ln an electric switch. the combination with a pair ot' arms, ot a contact mounted on lone end of each arm, axially revoluble insulating' supports 'for the other ends of said arms, and means for turning said supports, said arms comprising' curved portions forming part ot the electric circuit and arcingg1 sur-tace.

5. ln an electric switch, the combination with a pair of arms, of a contact mounted on one end ol each arm, revoluble supports for the other ends ot' said arms having their axes located in t-he same plane, a discharge horn mounted on each support in axial alinement therewith, a circuit including said arms and carryinga current ot electricity and means for turningsaid supports to open said circuit#` said arms co1nprising,T curved portions tor conducting said current in a path located to induce a magnetic tlux Jfor giving the arc formed when said circuit is opened a normal tendency toward the plane including the axes ot' said horns.

6.111 an electric switch, the combination with a base, ot' a pair ot' mutually inclined shafts revolubly mounted in' said base, means for revolving said shafts, an lnsula'tor supy ported by each shaft, an arm supported by each insulator, a contact upon the end of each. arm, a. discharge horn mounted upon each arm in axial alinement with the corresponding shaft and a line connection to the end of each arm.

7. In an electric switch, the combination with a pair ot' curved arms, of a Contact mounted on one end o't each arm, a revoluble support for the other end of each arm, v

means for rotating saidarn'is and means for varying the distance oit each contactt'rom the axisV of the support of the corresponding arm.

S. ln an electric switch, the combination with a base, of a pairot' mutually inclined shafts revolubly mounted in said base, means for revolving said shafts, an insulator supported by each shaft, an arm supported by each insulator, a contact upon the end of each arm, a. discharge horn mounted upon i each arm in axial alinement with the correspending' shaft, a connector swiveled to each arm and a/tlexible connection between each connector and Contact.

9. In an electric switch, a pair of switch arms, means for revolubly supporting one end of each arm, and a. Contact mounted upon the other end of each arm, each con" tact` comprising a parallel block and a wedgeshaped block and a spring connection between said blocks and between said blocks and said arm.

l0. In an electric switch, the combination with a pair of curved arms, ot4 a Contact mounted on one end of each, a revoluble support for the other end of each arm,

means for rotating said arms and a connesl tion between each support and each arm near. said Contact whereby the distance ofY GEO. T. 'SOUTHGATE partially en- 

